The purpose of this application is to address COVID-19-related health disparities and advance health equity in Idaho by expanding public health capacity and services to prevent and control COVID-19 infection and transmission among higher risk and underserved populations. This initiative will be housed within the Office of Policy, Performance and Strategy, which resides in the Division of Public Health within the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The Division of Public Health?s mission is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. The division will prioritize the development of a coordinated and collaborative approach to address COVID-19-related health disparities and advance a state-level equitable public health system that is prepared and responsive to the needs of Idaho?s populations most impacted by health inequities including high-risk and underserved populations and rural communities. These efforts will ultimately transform Idaho?s public health infrastructure and advance health equity through the creation and expansion of coordinated, multi-sector partnerships, plans, strategies, interventions and services that aim to reduce the risk and burden of COVID-19. The division recognizes how the social determinants of health and long-standing health and social inequalities contribute to increased risk and severity of COVID-19 for specific populations and is committed to investing upstream in strategies that will shape healthy outcomes for all Idahoans. The division will implement strategies that aim to build infrastructure to address disparities in the COVID-19 pandemic and set a foundation that is prepared to respond to future public health emergencies. Program strategies of the grant that the division will implement and generate outcomes by 2023 include Strategies 2, 3 and 4, as outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. The division's initiative outcomes will address COVID-19-related health dis
parities and advance health equity in underserved communities, racial and ethnic minority groups and rural populations within Idaho. Intended outcomes include: 1. Reduced COVID-19-related health disparities. 2. Improved and increased testing and contact tracing among populations at higher risk and that are underserved, including racial and ethnic minority groups and people living in rural communities. 3. Improved state, local, U.S. territorial and freely associated state health department capacity and services to prevent and control COVID-19 infection (or transmission) among populations at higher risk and that are underserved, including racial and ethnic minority groups and people living in rural communities.